A previously unseen video of filming wrapping on The Force Awakens was also shared with hungry fans, while it was confirmed Gwendoline Christie, Adam Driver and Carrie Fisher would reprise their roles as Captain Phasma, Rylo Ren and General Organa.

In an interview with HitFix last month, Benicio Del Toro - whose role in Star Wars has been speculated about for months - didn't deny he would play a villain.

"You know, I'm not supposed to say, but that's what's out there, so I'm not gonna try and fight it," he said.

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Laura Dern's role is unknown, but both newcomers are highly-regarded. Del Toro won an Oscar for his role in 2000 crime drama Traffic, while Dern has been twice nominated for 2014's Wild and Rambling Rose (1991).

Filming for Episode VIII began at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. John Boyega, who shot to fame playing Finn in The Force Awakens, tweeted the news. He was awarded the rising star BAFTA gong on Sunday night.

Episode VIII is still more than a year away, scheduled for released on December 15, 2017, but fan theories are already at fever pitch.

Luke Skywalker made his appearance in the final moments of The Force Awakens, and will play a bigger role in the next film. The identity of Rey's parents remains a mystery, while Boyeda won't rule out a romance between Finn and pilot Poe Dameron.

Episode VIII director Rian Johnson, who has taken the reins from J.J. Abrams, also sent tongues wagging when he tweeted a fan drawing of Poe and Finn kissing in January.

Abrams will remain involved in the series as an executive producer on the eighth film.

The Force Awakens became the fastest-grossing film in history after its December 18 release, grossing more than $US2 billion worldwide and spawning a new generation of Star Wars fans.